Many real-time systems can be described as cascade space-state models of different orders. In this paper, a new predefined controller is designed using a Strongly Predefined Time Sliding Mode Control (SPSMC) scheme for a cascade high-order nonlinear system. The proposed control scheme based-on SMC methodology is designed such that the system states reach zero within a determined time prior to performing numerical simulation. Moreover, Fixed Time Sliding Mode Control (FSMC) and Terminal Sliding Mode Control (TSMC) schemes are presented and simulated to provide a comparison with the proposed predefined time scheme. The numerical simulation is performed in Simulink/MATLAB for the proposed SPSMC and the other two existing methods on two examples: second and of third order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed SPSMC method. The trajectory tracking of the ship course system is addressed as an example of a second-order system. Synchronization of two chaotic systems, Genesio Tesi and Coullet, is considered as an example of a third-order system. Also, by using two performance criteria, a thorough comparison is made between the proposed predefined time scheme, SPSMC, and the two no predefined time schemes, FSMC and TSMC.

One of the most critical problems in all practical systems is the presence of uncertainties, internal and external disturbances, as well as disturbing noise, which makes the control of the system a challenging task. Another challenge with the physical systems is the possibility of cyber-attacks that the system’s cyber security against them is a critical issue. The systems related to oil and gas industries may also be subjected to cyber-attacks. The subsets of these industries can be mentioned to the oil and gas transmission industry, where ships have a critical role. This paper uses the Quantitative Feedback Theory (QFT) method to design a robust controller for the ship course system, aiming towards desired trajectory tracking. The proposed controller is robust against all uncertainties, internal and external disturbances, noise, and various possible Deception, Stealth, and Denial-of-Service (DOS) attacks. The robust controller for the ship system is designed using the QFT method and the QFTCT toolbox in MATLAB software. Numerical simulations are performed in MATLAB/Simulink for two case studies with disturbances and attacks involving intermittent sinusoidal and random behavior to demonstrate the proposed controller.